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Jing Manor, Prince Jing’s Study
A month after the return from Mount Jiu An
Prince Jing, Xiao Jingyan, has entertained many visitors of great import in his study, especially more so over the past two years. All encounters have been respectful on the end of both parties. Mostly.
Well, mostly until now.
There’s tea spit on the fine rugs on the study floor, and a squawking man in white almost gagging like he literally ate excrement.
Well, at least, drank it – as claimed by said man.
“Is this what the future Emperor of Da Liang drinks on a daily basis? I am glad Changsu hasn’t been poisoned yet! I am more disappointed by your taste in tea, than your taste in consorts,” grumbles Lin Chen, pretending to pray the tea away.
“Impetuous!” calls the stern, angry voice of Lie Zhanying from the doorway. “The Emperor still rules with great vigour, what you say amounts to treason!”
“Ah, then you agree with me about the tea and the consorts, eh General?” is the smartass reply, which is naturally expected.
“You-”
“Enough,” Jingyan finally speaks with great equanimity, setting aside the terrible tea. His Consort’s palate has not been the same lately, perhaps Changsu has missed the nuances and delicate notes he is usually so cognizant of. Changsu had been very tired as well, and even the venerable Dr. Yan had commented that something was gravely off.
Dr. Yan had written to a specialist for a second opinion. And then, two days ago, Lin Chen, the purported Young Master of Langya Hall flew into the Jing manor two days ago, turning the household upside down – claiming he needed to look after Consort Mei’s delicate health.
Jingyan’s head had been close to bursting since then. (An unfortunate after-effect of Lin Chen’s presence, as Zhen Ping had deadpanned.)
But for Changsu’s sake, the prince gritted his teeth and braved the pain, lifting his head up to smile. His smile is clipped, and his tone is hard. He doesn’t have any patience for antics – not when his (deeply beloved) Consort is sick and he has been helpless to do anything.
“Master Lin, I have been assured my humble household has extended its best hospitality to you. Everyone here and my revered mother in the palace have been beside themselves with worry because Changsu has not been himself since quite some time now. We hope your reputation as a peerless physician will not come to naught.”
Lin Chen smirks.
“Do you really not know - Your Highness?” The Your Highness seems to roll off his tongue like an afterthought.
“If I did,” Jingyan grinds out, pressing hard against his cup of horrible tea, just resisting the urge to break it, “I wouldn’t be entertaining the deep wisdom of Langya Hall.”
Damn it, what was this Lin Chen not telling him?
“Congratulations and Celebrations Your Highness, you will soon be playing with a cute little Dragon and Phoenix pair.”
Jingyan forgets all his years of royal training to drop his cup of tea – on the new robes Changsu had commissioned for him just two weeks ago. There’s a mad rush of air in his ears.
“Oops, seems like someone spilled the tea, eh? And it’s not just you.” Lin Chen’s cackles echo through the small chamber even as –
Prince Jing, Xiao Jingyan, faints.
Prince Jing’s personal bedroom (which he rarely uses these days)
An hour later
The setting has changed slightly now – to the Prince’s bedroom. Lie Zhanying is sitting inside, glaring at Lin Chen, who takes Jingyan’s pulse as he reclines on a couch.
“I regret to tell you, Your Highness, you are most definitely not pregnant, like Changsu is. Not that you would be, considering the way and Changsu roll in bed,” Lin Chen quips, putting Jingyan’s hand down not too gently.
“Impude-”
“Zhanying, will you excuse us?” Prince Jing says softly from the bed, sounding truly…exhausted.
Zhanying huffs, bows and leaves, not before scowling at Lin Chen. He now understands why Fei Liu, the adorable little grump, hates the mention of Lin Chen. The Young Master of Langya Hall is an…acquired taste, much like the tea he spit out today.
As the room is quiet again, Lin Chen seeks to pipe up with another joke when Jingyan whispers, forehead lined with worry, “They told me he would never conceive when Father arranged the marriage. I thought, that may keep him safe from everything else.”
“If answers at Langya Hall can be bought at a price, so can those of Imperial Physicians. However, Changsu’s condition was indeed legitimate – he has been too weak to bear children. It’s the Wujin poison, which has this interesting side effect I have discovered. He has likely been pregnant since the err…first time you were together after that incident.” Lin Chen answers, his voice going soft, rather than saucy.
“The Wujin poison’s effects are documented.” Jingyan’s face turns into a grimace as he bristles inside with anger at Xia Jiang’s treachery and torture of his royal consort. His, he snarls inside.
“No one has lived long enough to determine it’s true after-effects.”
Jingyan quietens. He thinks of the night when Changsu had finally recovered from the horrible poison, ten days after his rescue. He had thrown himself into Jingyan’s welcoming arms. They had not spent a single day apart after that, except on Mount Jiu An.
Jingyan had sworn to die if anything had happened to Changsu, as they had parted with a fierce kiss.
Jingyan’s heart lurches with the fact that Changsu was alone at Mount Jiu An. With child.
He hates himself for missing the signs, for being so callous, when he should have known a lot better.
“Master Lin, tell me, tell me please – tell me everything that you know about Changsu and his health condition. He never tells me anything, and his household follows his wishes. I know you are his true friend. As his husband, I wish, I need to take care of him, and our children.”
Lin Chen bites his lip in thought – while Jingyan’s eyes turn large and soft and pleading.
“Please, I can’t lose the people I love again,” he entreats. He really cannot.
He has lost Xiao Shu and Xiao Shu’s pearl – he can’t lose the only other person that he cares for…loves even.
Lin Chen scrunches his face at the Seventh Prince - whose face is gaunt and hands are clammy. He had expected joy, not for the perfectly healthy Xiao Jingyan to fall apart so quickly.
Here was a man who had beat impossible odds to return and win the war at Mount Jiu An. Lin Chen would never have forgiven him if he didn’t. What was making the father-to-be so sad and tense, instead of joyful?
Lin Chen would have waited for Changsu to deliver the news, but considering said asshole patient had promptly also fainted (with joy) and then had gone into deep slumber, someone had to break the news to asshole patient’s husband – or Xiao Jingyan would have worn down the stone outside Changsu’s quarters with his frenetic pacing.
(Jingyan had apparently already cut down two trees, smashed three statues and disciplined his army four times in the grand three days Changsu had been showing symptoms. He was here to save the Jing Manor as much as Changsu, Lin Chen had mused).
As his train of thought meandered to an end, Lin Chen heard Xiao Shu’s water-buffalo pipe up.
“You’re wondering why I am not happy.”
Lin Chen nods his head. He can be a cheerful squawker when needed – but he is nonetheless the sharpest observer in the known lands, he knows when to quiet down.
“You probably think it’s because I feel Changsu defrauded me with this marriage, and now we have children on the way. You don’t trust me.”
“Big words, Your Highness. Didn’t you accuse Changsu of finding his way into your bed by any means?”
“I…I…” Jingyan closes his eyes and bites his lip as he remembers that day when his father had taken him aside, and recommended famed Scholar Su as a side-consort for him.
1 Year Ago
Sir Su and he had just had a fiery argument a few days before – when the fireworks factory had blown up the old residential quarter and destroyed the lives of countless citizens. They had been having one of their epic cold wars.
Jingyan had been summoned to the Palace. His Royal Father had wanted to laud him privately for his quick actions during the fire and bestow a few gifts.
There was another gift altogether that the Emperor had in mind, it seemed.
“Sir Su’s presence has been heating up the capital,” the Emperor had quipped, his eyes hard and beady while looking at Jingyan. “He is too sickly to be a full official, however I do not intend to lose his talents. I would be happy to make him a part of our royal family – this will keep him close to Us for advice. I know you are strict with your consorts and encourage them to follow your example of simplicity – hope that you will be a little gentler with Sir Su. After all, he is used to receiving many gifts from Jinghuan and Jingxuan.”
Jingyan had quietly bowed and accepted his father’s decision. He knew that it was a voice that brooked no argument.
He had secretly sensed Sir Su behind this, and had been furious with the ‘weak scholar’ for scheming his way into his bed, even as Jingyan desired to keep being upright and honourable. He had derided the man angrily, because they were already partners – and he thought this had been Sir Su’s ultimate aim – to rule over Da Liang at his side stealthily.
Jingyan had accused him of dishonour, and had not touched him after welcoming him down (for the public, of course) from the palanquin that entered from the side-gates.
Their cold war had gone on for another full month.
It was only later that Jingyan would discover from Eunuch Gao in passing, that his Royal Father had been visiting his Mother’s Zhiluo Palace for tea more often, because it was the only peaceful place in the entire Imperial citadel. Consort Jing and the Emperor would often discuss parenting. She regularly praised the Emperor for being a strict and impartial father to his children.
The fight between the Crown Prince and Prince Yu had escalated that month after the factory blast.
Jingyan of course, was not obtuse as everyone thought, and had gotten the hint.
It had taken a week to apologise to Sir Su – no, Changsu now.
It had taken another week for Sir Su to warm to him.
But it was only much, much later, after Xia Jiang had asked to question Jingyan’s Consort Mei that he had realised that he couldn’t live if something had happened to his Changsu. They had started building a life together, outside these intrigues.
And so now here they were – having braved insane odds, and now with children – a pair even.
A thought that both overjoyed and terrified Jingyan.
“I. I…”, Jingyan struggles for words as the memory overtakes him of the harsh words he had spoken to Changsu then. “I was mistaken – I wish I could take everything back. Master Lin, you have to help me protect the children, and Changsu…at any cost.”
“And how will you do that?” Lin Chen asks, narrowing his eyes, a questioning look in them. “You never trusted Changsu, and in the future there will be a Princess Consort, and legitimate children. How will you protect this illegitimate pair?”
Lin Chen asks him because he has a theory, a vague idea where he needs a rise of out the Prince to prove it.
True to his hypothesis, Jingyan’s face turns the colour of puce and his heart burns with anger at those words.
“These are my legitimate children, and there will be no one else apart from Changsu, no one else! I’ll take good care of them – I won’t lose anyone ever again – not the baby, not him – never again! So, you tell me what ails Changsu, and how can I save him from his sickness! He has to be by my side for the rest of my life! He must, Xiao Shu-
Jingyan’s eyes slowly roll to the back of his head as everything spots black, and he loses his senses again, to another loud squawk from Lin Chen.
Eight Hours Later
Consort Mei’s Quarters, The Jing Manor
Jingyan slips into bed beside Changsu, and puts an arm around his too-thin Consort. He has to ensure a healthy diet for him now, after all, he is eating for three!
I’ll make him my Empress one day, Jingyan thinks, as he pulls Changsu close and buries his nose in Changsu’s bittersweet-herb smelling hair.
Changsu squirms a little. He’s half-asleep. Jingyan wants to tickle him – but doesn’t want to disturb his constitution in this delicate state. After all, Jingyan knows it well.
As he moves in closer, he thinks back to the remainder of his conversation with Lin Chen. The true story of Changsu’s life – how his father was a famous Jianghu leader, and had been betrayed by his best friend, and Changsu had been subsequently poisoned by something mysterious at a young age – leaving him frail and always very very cold.
Lin Chen had hopes for Changsu to survive just 2 more years, but the happy accident with the Wujin poison and the new babies had increased his suppressed yang energies – which would definitely aid in the elongation of his life-span.
“More bedroom activities should help; I can loan you a few books. You look like you’d be very boring in bed – yes, yes, General Lie, I can hear the ‘Insolence!’ coming from fifty li away,” Lin Chen had told off Jingyan to the prince’s very red face, while skipping away from Zhanying in the corridor outside Jingyan’s study.
(“And Your Highness, I suggest whatever troubles you, relieve your burdens with your partner rather than away from them. I can tell from the flow of your pulse, and the strategic scars, what ails you. You and Changsu need to heal together,” Lin Chen had privately told him, pulling him away to a corner far from Zhanying.)
“Mmm, Your Highness, you’re making me hot!” comes a saucy, complaining voice – and Jingyan knows it’s his future Empress playing all the cards that make him go wild. Increased libido is a great side-effect of this time – Lin Chen had told him – but they needed to be careful for the first three months.
“I’ll have enough time to make you hot after the third month is over,” Jingyan whispers back in a sultry tone, laying a kiss on the back of Changsu’s neck. “Your doctor friend is sending some books for you and I; he says these tomes have interesting ideas. I’ll ensure that we adapt every one of them, across every surface of our quarters - soon enough.”
“Well I understand we shall be moving to larger quarters soon, that should give us hundreds of options. Let us finish those tomes post-haste when time comes.”
Jingyan laughs with warmth. His beloved must be truly happy today. As is he, only tinged with a certain memory and a sadness.
He doesn’t know whether to tell Changsu.
“Aah,” Changsu moans, shifting onto his back. “My back has been hurting and my feet have been swollen for days. Now that we know the condition, it will be much easier to bear and also heal.”
“My mother makes a wonderful medicine that helps with swelling of hands and feet in the case of pregnancy. I shall ask her to make it for you. I shall also show you a few stretching exercises that are beneficial in this condition,” Jingyan comments, lifting his head and nuzzling into Changsu’s chest.
“Aah, it must help immensely in the Imperial Harem when the Consorts are pregnant!”
Changsu’s tone is bright – Jingyan almost considers not saying it when it slips out, his mind harking back to those years.
“And me too, thirteen years ago.”
Changsu suddenly sits up and heaves, as Jingyan moves up to hold him steady.
He has to solve his pain with his Changsu, Lin Chen had said. This is a sign.
Jingyan takes a deep breath.
“You were with child? Jingyan, were you –
Jingyan misses the conspicuous use of his birth name as memories flood him, and his breath shortens, just like what happened around Lin Chen. He needs to share his truth with Changsu, even as he barely misses uncovering Changsu’s own truth.
He cups Changsu’s face in his hands.
“Our pair are not my first children. Remember there’s a scar on my belly? Xiao Shu and I, had made love, and being young – had been very careless with our affections. We wished to be married to each other – and live as shield husbands, protecting the borders of Da Liang. When I was in Donghai, I discovered my pregnancy.
It would have been a massive royal scandal for a prince to get pregnant and not his partner, that too out of wedlock. I didn’t know what to do – so I wrote to Brother Qi. He scolded me, and asked me to hide it until Xiao Shu and I both came back as heroes, because Father was so tense these days. I hid it quietly, and I hid it well with the help of some loyal men. Everyone thought I was a lazy prince, eating too much, fattening my belly. Only Brother Qi and my mother knew the truth in my family. They tried to help me, but I was so afraid and lonely – without Xiao Shu. There were so many things I suffered alone – and I had to find remedies myself.”
Jingyan’s voice breaks at the memory, as Changsu grips his hands tight with a death grip. Changsu’s hands are freezing.
“I sent letters to Xiao Shu, but by the time they reached him, the news arrived at Donghai – about the framing of the Chiyan army. Our Zhu-er was born a month before it was his time to come, because I went into shock on hearing it. Father forbade me to return in that climate – and Zhu-er was so small and tiny – he needed the best physicians – but I failed him. I could not convince Father to let me come back to the capital. Brother Qi and Mother’s letters were stopped. Our son lived for four months, before he passed. He was so tiny, but he had Xiao Shu’s eyes and spirit – he was a little fighter.”
The tears flow freely across Jingyan’s face as Changsu hugs him tight, and Jingyan can feel his Consort’s heaving.
Jingyan sees a distant image of another time – of Xiao Shu playing with a tiny baby, and then of a future, when his Empress Mei plays with a little boy and girl – splitting images of Xiao Shu, all three of them. He doesn’t know why he sees this absurd vision, but it makes him breathe a lot easier – like Lin Chen had promised him.
“I have been through the worst pain, and now I am here – a chance to relive my happiness with you. So Changsu, not only am I very happy for us, but I’ll help you every step of the way. I’ll be there – I’ll protect you and our little dragon and phoenix. I’ll never give up on you, you must trust me. I lost Xiao Shu’s Zhu-er, but I won’t lose ours okay? I promise, I-”
Jingyan’s entreaties are quieted by lips sealing over his. The soft kiss becomes deep and tears flow freely on both sides.
This had been about Changsu’s health – but then this became about Jingyan’s too. What kind of family would they make if they didn’t share their pain and truths with each other?
Jingyan delves deep into the kiss, and slowly starts forgetting the pain as Changsu deeply hugs him.
Xiao Shu is not here. Zhu-er is not here. But Changsu is – and so are the children they have made, and the ones they will make in future. This life, this love, is more than enough.
Jingyan will keep his pearls safe – or he will die trying.
Till then, he will always have Changsu.
Lin Chen drinks wine by moonlight perched atop Jing Manor, legs swinging wildly. After all, Fei Liu has to have got his habits somewhere.
He notices a shaking, angelic figure walk into the nearby pavilion, latticed with delicate flowers. A river of white runs across the sky. So, the Weaver Girl finally told the truth to the Cowherd, wonder when the Cowherd will return the favour, Lin Chen muses to himself.
Before he can interject and make Changsu’s life a little bit more miserable than it is now, Changsu bursts into tears, and wracking sobs. Lin Chen quiets and stays on his perch.
The frail Jianghu Chief and current Royal consort places a hand on his belly.
Zhu-er. Zhu-er. That’s the name Lin Chen hears Changsu speak over and over again.
That must be Xiao Jingyan’s secret – the one he could never tell Xiao Shu.
“Lin Chen,” comes a commanding, but broken voice which snaps the Young master out of his drunken reverie. “I know you’re listening.”
“I am not, I am happily drinking-
“Let’s speed up the plan, all the locks and gears need to fall into place. The quicker we fish out Xia Jiang and oust the Emperor, the better I can take care of my family.”
“Weren’t you the one who advocated this slow and steady push for your Prince?”
“I did. But now I have three very big reasons to move fast.” Changsu softly pats his belly again.
“This time it’s not justice I want, it’s an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. They took everything from Brother Qi and the Chiyan Army, and they took our child from Jingyan. This time, I will seek and destroy.”
Changsu’s voice is no longer the cold and calculating one of his schemer avatar, but the bold and fiery one that belonged to Young Marshal Lin Shu.
Lin Chen smiles and drops a cavalier salute. These two star-crossed fools were indeed very interesting.
Changsu’s eyes glitter in the darkness, filled with the fires burning in Meiling. He sees a vision of a desperate Jingyan, running from fire with a small bundle in his arms, and a vision of a happier future – with him in Jingyan’s arms, playing with a little girl and boy – as Emperor and Empress.
This revenge is not enough – but this love is more than what Changsu could have ever fathomed.
Lin Shu will keep his pearls safe this time – and burn down every traitor in Da Liang. He will not die this time.
He will keep his Jingyan, and avenge his pain. Only the day when Jingyan truly smiles again when he sees their pearls, will Lin Shu know he has done enough.